Master Masatoshi Nakayama

1913 - 1987

Masatoshi Nakayama was an internationally famous Japanese master of Shotokan karate.

Nakayama entered Takushoku University in 1932 and began learning karate under Gichin Funakoshi and his son Yoshitaka (also known as Gigō).

In 1949 Nakayama helped establish the Japan Karate Association. Funakoshi was the formal head of the organization, with Nakayama appointed as Chief Instructor.

He develop a logical way of teaching Karate and documented the proper way of practicing Shotokan. He wrote many textbooks on karate, which served to popularize this martial art. Nakayama worked to spread Shotokan karate around the world for nearly 40 years, until his death in 1987.

He was the first master in Shotokan history to attain the rank of 9th dan while alive and was posthumously awarded the rank of 10th dan.